By George & Josh Bate
Ahead of Star Wars Celebration Japan this week, we’ve put together a guide of tips and tricks to make the most of this year’s Celebration. Whether this is your first Celebration or you’re a Celebration regular, check out some of our suggestions below….
Make sure you have printed copies of the QR codes for your photo ops, panel reservations, and official Celebration Store visits
We recommend logging onto showclix.com/my-tickets and printing out any QR codes/tickets you have. You never know if your smartphone is going to fail you and a paper copy is always more reliable.
Consider the Possibility of an Andor Screening or Red Carpet Premiere
At Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022, fans attending the Lucasfilm Studio Showcase were invited back to the event in the evening for the red carpet premiere of Obi-Wan Kenobi. At Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, fans attending the Lucasfilm Studio Showcase were invited back to the event in the evening for an early screening of an episode of The Mandalorian. With Andor Season 2 premiering on Disney+ on April 22, many (including us) are keeping our fingers crossed that attendees to Saturday’s Andor panel will have the chance to attend an early screening or even the red carpet premiere of the new series. If this is of interest to you, prioritize reserving a spot in the Andor Season 2 panel on Saturday. Remember, there are two major panels on Saturday – Andor Season 2 and Ahsoka Season 2 – but fans can only reserve a spot for one of them.
Move Autograph and Photo Op Times If Possible
Star Wars Celebration Japan features a whole host of exciting celebrity guests, who will offer autograph and photo op opportunities. To ensure that you can attend the panels you want to attend, see if you can move your autographs and photo op times around if they conflict.
Pick Up Your Badge Early
Badges can be picked up at the registration booths in Hall 9. Although the convention only runs from Friday to Sunday, you can pick your badge up beginning on Tuesday at 10am. If you can, we’d recommend making a trip to the convention center and picking up your badge a day or so earlier than your first day at Celebration.
Registration hours at Star Wars Celebration Japan are as follows….
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
The badge art for Star Wars Celebration Japan is designed by Japanese artist TAKUMI and is simply breathtaking. Take a look at a full HD gallery of all 17 pieces of badge art here.
You can also purchase an on-demand screen-printed T-shirt with a Celebration exclusive design only available for fans who pick up their tickets between Tuesday, April 15 – Wednesday, April 16 until 7 PM and Thursday, April 17 by 2 PM.
Bring a Folder or Protective Sleeve for Autographs and Photo Ops
With the purchase of an autograph or photo op, you are given a free high quality print out. However, this does not include any way to protect your recent purchase. While you can purchase protective sleeves at the event, we recommend bringing your own (in addition to a folder to hold them in) to save money and ensure your autographs and photo ops don’t get damaged.
Download the Celebration App
You can download the official Celebration app here. The app includes a map of the venue, which is valuable in making your way around. It also features Droid Hunt, an interactive game you can engage in while at Celebration.
Enjoy Japan!
Each Star Wars Celebration offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a part of the world you may have little exposure to. The previous Celebration was held in London, which gave an opportunity to many Star Wars fans to explore one of the world’s most sprawling and interesting cities. This year’s Celebration marks only the second time the convention has been held in Japan (the first being in 2008). As such, there’s no guarantee when (if ever) another Celebration will be held here.
If you’re originally from another country and making the journey to Japan for Celebration, we recommend making the most of your trip. Tokyo is the largest city on Earth, with a population of over 37 million. That’s four times the population of NYC! In this city of millions, there are so many different things to explore and enjoy. Budget permitting, try to carve out a few days before or after Celebration to visit places like the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo Disneyland, teamLab Planets TOKYO, Shibuya Crossing (which is the world’s busiest intersection), and the iconic temple Senso-ji. While you’re there, be adventurous and try food you’ve never experienced before too!
Have Access to Internet (Either Through the Convention Center Wi-Fi or Through Your Phone Carrier)
The convention hall has a free Wi-Fi service available in the 2F Central Mall. The name of the Wifi is “Messe_Free_Wi-Fi” and is available for 30 minutes of access at one time. If you wish to continue using the Wi-Fi after 30 minutes, you will need to connect again.
Of note, there is NO Wi-Fi Service available on the Show Floor in Halls 1-7. Again, all the more reason to have printed copies or screenshots of things.
Leave Early Each Day
Regardless of whether you have a reservation to a major panel or have access through your Jedi Master VIP ticket, it’s key to arrive to each day of Star Wars Celebration as early as you can. Minutes can quickly turn into hours waiting for the initial crowds to enter the convention center, so you’d rather be safe than sorry.
Bring a Backpack and Pack Snacks & Reusable Water Bottles
You’ll want to stay hydrated during the long days of walking at the convention. Unfortunately, water bottles are expensive and also can take up a lot of time to get due to the lengthy lines at kiosks and restaurants. We recommend packing a reusable water bottle for the day. The convention center should have refilling stations to keep topping up during the day. In a similar vain, pack some snacks in case you’re hungry! Having a backpack will also be much easier than carrying around bags of different items you purchase at the convention.
Review the Food Hall Menu Ahead of Time
Speaking of food, the official Food Hall menu of food and drinks can be found here. We recommend viewing it ahead of time to make sure there are items on the menu that suit your preferences and dietary restrictions. If not, packing extra food may be a good idea. There are also Food Trucks located outside near the morning queue area!
Bring a Mask
Big crowds gather for Star Wars Celebration and, if you’re sick or would feel more comfortable, bring a mask to wear just in case.
Take Time for the Experiential Side of Star Wars Celebration
One of the highlights of Star Wars Celebration 2022 in Anaheim was The Mandalorian Experience (you can see a full description and photo gallery here). Take advantage of any experiences at this year’s Star Wars Celebration to engage with Star Wars in a more hands-on manner. Go to the terrific Art Show. Take pictures with cosplayers. Pose in front of the massive vehicles on display. And, if there’s a repeat of The Mandalorian Experience, make sure to line up and attend – it’s worth the wait in line.
Budget Carefully
Between tickets, photo ops, autographs, merchandise, food, and more, Star Wars Celebration can be a costly venture. We recommend budgeting carefully as you head into the convention to know how much money you’re comfortable spending.
Take Plenty of Pictures
Each Star Wars Celebration is an unforgettable experience, but there is nothing like having a photo that captures your memory of a specific cosplayer, panel, crowd, food item, or more.
Follow Star Wars Holocron for Live Updates
As with previous Star Wars Celebrations, Star Wars Holocron will be providing minute-by-minute live updates of all the breaking news at the convention. This will include live posts of the panels and tons of cool photos of the event. Follow us on Twitter/X, BlueSky, or Threads and also follow our coverage on our website TheHoloFiles.com.
Ask Convention Staff for Help
When in doubt, ask Celebration staff for help. Our experience has been overwhelmingly positive with staff members working the event, and they’re usually more than happy to provide directions or answer a quick question.
Be Kind and Respectful
It can quickly become overwhelming with the crowds at Star Wars Celebration, and manners often go out the window unfortunately. Please make attending the convention a positive experience for everyone by being respectful of others. Cosplay is not consent, don’t cut in line, and say “Hello there!” to your fellow Star Wars fans.